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Trinco situ: PM meets service chiefs
Kadirgamar explains why he briefed media
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has conferred with Security Forces chiefs and their respective Eastern area leaders on the security situation in and around Trincomalee. At a conference at Temple Trees on Wednesday he also discussed the prevailing security situation in the country, measures necessary and the requirements of the security forces.

Premier Wickremesinghe also made available a helicopter for Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse to tour the Trincomalee area yesterday. He also directed Defence Secretary, Austin Fernando, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle and Navy Commander, Daya Sandagiri to accompany him.

The move came as Lakshman Kadirgamar, international affairs advisor to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, refuted comments attributed to Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Sandagiri, in a newspaper interview. The Navy Chief was quoted as saying "he felt betrayed" the former Foreign Minister had released "a confidential security report" without telling him and thus "created a serious threat to the security situation."

Mr Kadirgamar said in a statement issued yesterday that as conceded by Vice Admiral Sandagiri it was an "authorized briefing" on the direction of the President and Commander-in-Chief. He said besides himself and the Navy Chief those present were Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle, Navy's Eastern Area Commander Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and Defence Advisor to the President, Chandrananda de Silva, who was formerly Defence Secretary.

Mr. Kadirgamar said "At the conclusion of the briefing I asked the Navy Commander whether I could use the information I had received. His reply was, with the concurrence of the Army Commander: "Sir, we have been directed by Her Excellency to give you this briefing. It is for you to decide how you wish to use it. It is now your knowledge." Hence, Mr. Kadirgamar said "the question of betrayal of confidence simply cannot arise."

Mr. Kadirgamar said the information he gave the media and through it to the people could not possibly have created a threat to national security. On the contrary it revealed a great threat to the harbour that was being concealed by the authorities. Whilst the information he gave did not expose any weakness of the Navy, it exposed the threat posed to the Navy by the massive post-ceasefire LTTE build up, he said.

Mr. Kadiragamar's statement adds; "As a Member of Parliament, I have sworn an oath, under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution, to 'uphold and defend the Constitution' and 'not, directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka'. Those who ignore, conceal or distort vital information concerning security of Trincomalee harbour are in fact, directly or indirectly, supporting promoting or encouraging the establishment of a separate State.

" It should be noted that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence are equally bound, together with all other MPs, by the oath they have taken. So are the Service Commanders who have also sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. In his interview the Navy Commander has said 'My primary objective and that of all my officers and men is to perform the Navy's role and task as designated by the Constitution.

"What I am trying to protect is the sovereignty and integrity of this country. He should remember that misplaced loyalty to a transient political master should never be allowed to obscure his loyalty to the Constitution, the State and the people of Sri Lanka in whom sovereignty resides. The Navy Commander's words must be matched by corresponding deeds".

See Situation Report on Page 11 by Iqbal Athas for details on how service chiefs confirmed to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the existence of new LTTE camps, constructed after the ceasefire.

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